Mechanism for locking and releasing doors



Feb. 6, 1923,

C. F. FITTS.

. MECHANISM FOR LOCKING AND RELEASING DOORS.

2 SHEET SHEET 1- FILED JUNE 8,1921.

Feb. 6, 1923. 1,444,375.

C. F. FITTS.

MECHANISM FOR LOCKING AND RELEASING DOORS.

FILED JUNE 8, 192]. Z SHEETS-SHEET Z.

CHARLES F. FITTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL DUMP CAR COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINIOS, A GOIRPOBATIDN 0F T'LQINE.

MECHANISM? FOR LQCKIIIJ' AND RELEASING IDO'ORS.

Application filed June 8,

T 0 cZZ w 710m it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. Frrrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Lock ing and Releasing Doors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for locking and releasing doors. The invention is particularly applicable to mechanism for operating a plurality of doors at one operation and is adapted for use in connection with railway cars.

One object of the invention is to provide simple and sturdy door locking and releasing mechanism which will be effective in operation.

Another object is to provide a railway car with locking mechanism whereby a plurality of doors may be locked in closed position and whereby the locking mechanism may be moved to a non-lockin position by a simple operation.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the same car showing my improvements more in detail.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating details of my invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal view of the arrangement shown in Figure 3.

The various novel features of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims;

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that I have disclosed my invention in connection with a railway car and preferably a car having sides 10 only one being shown) and a plurality of floor doors 11 which, it will be understood, are pivotally mounted in the usual manner adjacent the center sill structure of the car. Each of the doors 11 has at its outer edge a reinforcing angle member 12. Arranged midway of the side of each door 11 is a bracket 13 which may be bolted or riveted to the angle member 12 and directly to the 1921. Serial is. 475,958.

dump door 11. The bracket member 13 extends laterally from the outer edge of the door and outwardly with respect to the side 10 of the car. To hold each door 11 in closed position, a link 14: is provided which is pivotally mounted at its upper end in a supporting member 15, preferably permanently secured to the side of the car 10 by means of rivets 16-16. The lower na rowed portion of the link, when in a position for holding its associated door 11 in closed position, passes under the progecting bracket 13, as shown in the figures of the drawing. If some means were not provided for retaining or looking the holding link 14 in a position to hold the door 11 closed, said holding means might swing outwardly thereby releasing its associated door because of the jarring actions occasioned from service conditions. To prevent accidental openingof the associated door and for locking the holding member 14C in door supporting position, I have provided locking means in theform of a catch member 1? having a pair of hook portions 17'17. A plurality of said catch members 17 are mounted on the shaft 1, which extends longitudinally of the car adjacent to the angle member 12. The shaft 18 is mounted to have a move ment of rotation and may be provided with an operating handle 19. Each of the catches 17 is securely fastened to the shaft 18 and therefore revolves about the center of shaft 18 as an axis.

The link'member 14a is provided laterally thereof with a pair of studs 19 19. Webs 2020 connect the undersides of studs 19 19 with adjacent outer sides of the link let. When the link 14 associated with each door is located in a position to engage the bracket 13, the catch member 1.7 may be moved to a position in which the hook portions 17 thereof will engage the studs 19-19 and will prevent the link member let from moving into a non-supporting position.

When the car is heavily loaded, considerable pressure is imposed upon the link 14, and accordingly, considerable effort is required for swinging the link 14 laterally out of engagement with its locking projection 13. For the purpose of facilitating the releasing movement of the link 14, the shaft 18 may be rotated in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2 whereby the hooks 17 will engage with the inner side of the webs 2020 and will force the link 14 out Of holding position whereupon the associated door 11 is free to drop into an open position for dumping material which is in the car.

The shaft 18 may operate a plurality of mechanisms for locking and releasing dump doors whereby a plurality of doors may be controlled from one point and with one operation.

lit will be clear therefore, that the mechanism described will be effective in its op-.

eration and will present a small likelihood of getting out of order.

it is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States, is:

1. The'combination of a plurality of dump doors, means for holding each of said doors in closed position, means for selectively selectively locking said holding means or moving said holding means to non-holding position, and common means for operating said selective means.

3. The combination of a plurality of dump doors, each of said doors having operatively associated therewith a pivoted hold ing member, a rotatable catch member operatively associated with each of said hold in members for ositivel retainin said holding member in holding position, said catch member including means forpositively moving their corresponding holding members to non-holding position.

4. Incombination, a plurality of dump doors, each being provided with door holding means and with means for locking said holding means or for moving said holding means to releasing posltion for controlling the position of said dump door and common means for operating said holding and releasing means.

5. In a railway car, a dump door, means for holding said door closed, a rotatable member for locking said holding means and for moving said holding means out of holding position and means extending longitudinally of the car for operating said locking and moving means.

6. In a railway car, a dump door, means for holding said door closed, a rotary latch for locking said holding means, said latch being adapted to move said holding means from holding position and means extending longitudinally of the car for rotating said latch.

7. In a railway car, a dum door, a pivoted catch for holding said oor closed, a rotary latch adapted in one position to lock said catch and in another position to move said catch from door holding position and means extending longitudinally of the car for rotating said late I 8. In a railway car, a plurality of dump doors, each being provided with a pivoted catch for holding same closed, each of said doors being provided with a rotary latch adapted in one position to lock said catch and in another position to move said catch from door holding position and common means extending longitudinally of the car for operating said latches.

9. In a railway car, a dump door, means comprising a loop member for holding said door closed, said loop member having'a laterally extending operating member, a catch adapted to engage said operating member to lock saidloop member in door holding position, said catch member being adapted in part of its travel to move said. loop member from door holding position.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 3rd day of June, 1921.

CHARLES F. FITTS. 

